Being the amazing, true-to-life adventures and (very likely) misadventures of a writer who seeks to take his education, activism and seemingly boundless energy to North Minneapolis, (NoMi) to help with a process of turning a rapidly revitalizing neighborhood into something approaching Urban Utopia. I am here to be near my child. From 02/08 to 06/15 this blog pushed free speech to the envelope, so others could take heart and speak unafraid. Email me at hoffjohnw@gmail.com

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Latest News From The Jordan Neighborhood

The "New Majority" JACC board in Jordan is planning to have a meeting on Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. at 2009 James Ave. N., and I have a copy of the proposed agenda. Some items include an update on "court action" and "offers of help from outside agencies." There will also be an "open comment, questions" at the end of the meeting. That part should be fun. Or not. Depending on your definition of "fun."

Word on the street is the pastor of the Jordan New Life Community Church asked members of the Old Majority to leave and not have their headquarters there anymore, feeling he was "deceived." This is, however, unconfirmed and comes from a supporter of the "New Majority." This blog continues to be open to receiving info from all sides of this controversy.

There is also word the "Old Majority" is planning to have their own board meeting at about the same time. If I had to guess, one of the first items might be dealing with that whole "lack of a quorum issue," since at least 8 board members are needed for a quorum and the Old Majority has, by my count, four.

My prediction: they'll appoint Al Flowers and some other supporter on some kind of emergency basis.

ADDENDUM: This blog post updated for accuracy. Eight, not five board members are apparently needed for a quorum.

Press conference organizers had Al Flowers forcibly ejected when he questioned the legality of their actions. Photo: Pat Carney

Michael Browne and three other Jordan neighborhood residents are “misleading” Jordan Area Community Council (JACC) and the community at large by engaging in unlawful acts, according to allegations made by Attorney Benjamin L. Myers, board vice chair of the embattled community organization.In a letter dated January 19, 2009, Myers charged “unlawful acts” occurred on January 14 when those named engaged in a “direct violation of this organization’s By-Laws by ‘removing’ the previously elected 2008 Executive Board.”

Myers said he advised Browne and others that their actions were unlawful and in direct violation of the organization’s bylaws and of Minnesota Statutes that govern such organizations. Myers said Browne, PJ Hubbard, Robert Hudson and Anne McCandless have presented themselves as the Executive Committee when if fact, they are not.

Myers said in the letter he is advising the group to “cease and desist from any further misrepresentation to anyone.” He said failure to do so may result in legal action taken against the group, and he said he would file a formal grievance alleging the group “breached fiduciary duty to the organization.”

The letter to Browne followed a letter to JACC Executive Director Jerry Moore signed by JACC Board Chair E. B. Brown, seeking to clarify Moore’s status as executive director of the organization.“I am writing in regards to recent confusion that may have arisen as to your employment status. It is my understanding that you received a letter from Mr. Michael Browne on or about January 14, 2009, advising you that you were being terminated for ‘misconduct.” Please be advised that pursuant to your employment contract you are still an employee of this organization and are expected to comply with your agreement,” E.B. Brown wrote.

Northside DFL leader Natonia Johnson called the development disturbing. In a note to Myers, she said, “Ben, this is very disturbing to say the least. I feel sorry for what is happening at JACC. Moreover, I feel sorry for the residents JACC is supposed to be serving. Lastly, the behavior of several people involved in this feud is very unsettling. It appears to me that there is a serious undertone of racism and control. I have lived in North Minneapolis for some time and I have never seen anything like this. I hope this situation can get resolved soon. However, the behavior of some of the people involved, including city staff and representatives, has left a lasting scar on the JACC community.”One of the residents charged in Myers’s complaints, Anne McCandless, issued a press release describing her side of the conflict. She wrote, “On January 12, 2009, an election was held for new directors to the Jordan Area Community Council Board of Directors bringing the number of directors to 15. … On January 14, the new board held its first board meeting. A new board executive committee was elected by a majority of the directors. This replaced the old leadership, a core group of four elected directors and the outgoing board chair. The board also voted to terminate the employment of the executive director, Mr. Jerry Moore, immediately.”

The Rev. Randolph Staten called the actions by Browne and McCandless “piracy being legitimized by city council members” referring the 5th Ward Councilmember Don Samuels and 4th Ward Councilmember Barb Johnson, who issued a letter saying they “recognized” the new executive board, and implying their expression of support carried legal status of the City Council. “Such statements are absolutely wrong, improper and illegal,” Staten said.

Samuels and Johnson sent a letter signed January 16 to Michael Browne as “board chair” claiming to “officially recognize the newly elected board and officers.”

A press conference called by Brown and McCandless for January 17 erupted in mayhem momentarily when Al Flowers’ questioning the legality of the proceedings resulted in his being ejected from the meeting by Minneapolis Police officers.

http://www.startribune.com/38838657.html?page=2&c=y"Miller said NRP officials noticed a pattern where the council spent more than 90 percent of the $210,000 it has received since 2008 on staff salaries and other administrative costs."

Al Flowers and Jerry Moore are fighting for the right of Northside leaders everywhere to hand out Northside funds to their cronies without fear of scrutiny! How dare Northside residents try to divert these rightful crony-payments to actual projects that might improve the quality of life for massive numbers of Northside chidren--that's elitist!

Well, if the "Old Majority" wants to achieve a quorum, they will have to either change the rules or hold some kind of "emergency election" and round up four more board members. I just can't imagine the Old Majority will sit on their hands and say, "Darn, we can't come up with a quorum." That wouldn't fit the pattern we've seen so far.

Curfew Times

Who Is "Drunk Ronnie Ward And His Brother?" Who Are Tracy Crawford And L Jones?

Who is "drunk Ronnie Ward and his bro?" Were they involved in the shooting of little Terrell Mayes, Jr?

If you left this blog the following comment on August 8, 2012, more information is needed.

Anonymous said...re terrel mayes 22 cal n mpls accidentl murder.drunk ronnie ward and bro? talking wanna kill tom weist n b amy fo? later saying we were just looking for tracy crawford n L jones and argue who fired the 22 gun when one of them hit the house ,your shot did no your shot his shot must of i pointed a diff way ect.ronnie ward fired the shot or was present at the shooting scene .n give 1/2 reward money to pastor paul please rip n peace terrel mayes

The police have not been able to find the killer based on your information. They have looked into it. Please, more information is needed. I understand you want "Pastor Paul" to get half the reward money. Who is Pastor Paul?

Help JNS Blog Patrol For Violations Of The Level Three Sex Offender "Zip Code Moratorium"

Hennepin County has drawn a line in the sand and said no more supervised more Level Three Sex Offenders will be dumped by MN DOC in the 55411 and 55412 zip codes. North Minneapolis residents are watching for violations of this unilateral cease fire agreement. Here's how YOU can be involved in checking to make sure MN DOC doesn't violate our rights by dumping more than the allotted number of rabid dogs in our neighborhood. Click the link below.

7.) Lloyd, also spelled Loyd. (Click here for possible example) These spelling variations may, in fact, be two different crime families. JNS blog is still looking into that.

8.) Ferguson, including descendants of James Leon Ferguson such as "Jdawg" Ferguson) This family is linked to relatives with surname Slaughter, McCaskel, and Slaughter-McCaskel. The name may be spelled "McCaskill" sometimes.